Pole setting apparatus and the like



Nov. 1, 1932. H. L. WHEELDEN POLE SETTING APPARATUS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 5, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

N 1, 19320 H. L. WHEELDEN 598859377 POLE SETTING APPARATUS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 5; 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I/vwsivmiz.

Hang L. heeldem.

Nov. 1, 1932. H W EL Y 1,885,877

POLE SETTING APPARATUS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 3, 1951 s sheets-sheet' a 45 I I O 70 l I I 5 Ii. l1 '4 I" "I t 72 I 12 J2 k 9 I 1 63 1 1s 7:5 0 l 3 I y 78 7f I 39 74 1 v 8 l i? 61; 76 i O fly, a 56 W 66 i i O I INVEN rm:

Har L- Wkeelden.

2 Barrel) STATES I Patented Nov. 1, 1932 POLE SETTING APPARATUS AND THE LIKE i Application filed February 3, 1931. Serial No. 513,145.

Lsgasn Ame as HARRY L. HEELDE or enson, MAINE This invention relates I to engineering equipment and particularly to machinery for such work as is involved in the construction or maintenance of light or power lines where poles are used to carry the .wires.

In this work, the position of the post or post hole is either at some little distance from the roadside or surrounded by such conditions as to make the approach of a heavy truck or'tractorimpossible 'or inconvenient or hazardous. While my machine isadapted for and adaptable to a great variety of operations, I will for'the purposes of discussion deal principally with such operations as the digging of post or other. holes, the erection and setting of the posts themselves, the filling and tamping of such holes, the pulling of poles previously set and various other and kindred operations including those of digging and drilling, lifting or transferring as where poles, heavyequipment, rock or other,

heavy materials have to be transferred from a position atone side of a roadway to another position, as for example, to another truck. It is highly desirable in such operations that the number-of piecesof equipment necessary for any job be as few as possible, but the difliculty involved is that'of the varied nature .of the work which has to be done and the ,A large number of different pieces of special equipment is not onlyexpensive and inconable workmember or tool to my operating .head. My concept of efficiency in machinery for I such operation is that of amfachine of simple and yet powerfultypeand having a sufficient versatility to. enable it to perform all of the usual operationsrequired and to do so 5 under most of the conditionswhi ch are encountered.-

As illustratiye of my invention I have shown in the accompanying drawings equipmeet illustrative of the: principles. involved 0 and while my invention capable ofembodiment' in various forms and maybe. Worked out in. various detail of special. re quirements, the accompanying drawings afford a basis for my discussionoflmy invention, its general embodiments and such special features as are important for success.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown the'machine as of the so-called caterpillar tractor type and for most purposes such type of self-propelled machine is ,p'ref- 6Q erable. I have heretoforereferred to roadways, but this is to be understood as a general term meaning such ways'or routesa's may have to he travelled by such equipment 3 circumstances attendant on its performance.

digger 1n enlarged sectlon.

in-performin'g-any particular piece of engi- I neeringv Suchways may, of course, in the case of light and telephone or telegraph lines be along or adjacent to a roadway or highway but on the other hand particularly in the case r of transmission lines the work most often 7 has to be pushedstraight through rough and difficult country in which case the capacity of the tractor tread type for get ing into and out of diflicult positionsis of greatimportance. v 'Throughoutthe specification and drawings like reference characters are employed toindicate corresponding parts, and in the drawings: 7 v Y i Fig. 1 is a side elevation of equipment in accordance with'my invention. 7

Fig. 2is aplan View of a portion thereof. Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the arms, work head and drives adjustments. I i i Fig. 4 is a fragmentary'detail of the bearing extension of the head] Fig. 5 is a sectional view-through one of the extensible arms onthe line 5-5, Fig. 3.

Fig. .6 is a transverse section on the line 2 Figl 7 is a sectional detail of the driving head and digger. I 8v is a partly sectioned detail o-ffliftingjack attachment for the'head.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the foot thereof. Fig. 10 is a View of the head with auxiliary'hoistingpole, and v v Fig.'11 is'asectional view showing the V mounted on the frame of a truck T.

' shaft 4.

Overhanging the platform and. extendingbeyond the rear of the truck is a frame carrying a work head. Tubular arms of this frame are provided with forked heads 6 which are 'pivot'ally supported on the shaft 4 and are each provided with a slidable extension or telescopic member 7 adjustable by a pinion 8 engaging a rack 9 carried by the extension 7. The pinion 8 is operated'by the crank 10 on across shaft 11 so that, the extensions maybe simultaneously operated.

The extensions 7 support at their outer ends a cross frame including a head 12 which is trunnioned between end frames on the forming the work.

extensions 7 so as 'to be tilta'ble. One of these frames 13provides bearing for a drive shaft 14 divided as at 14" which through the bevel gears 15 drives a cross shaft 16. The

shaft 16 has a bevel gear '17 meshing with a f gear 18 (see Fig. 7 which is on a rotary shank holder 19 and-rotatably mounted in the head 12. The other side of the head 12 which is trunnionedin the end frame 20 carried by the other arm is provided witha'gear 21. This is turned by a gear 22 on a shaft 23 within atubular arm'thesame being rotated in either direction by a reversing gear system 24 and clutches 25 so that the head 12 may be tilted or rocked on its axis to position the hole digger pole holder or other device at any desired angle or to manipulate the sameor other heavy tool or device per- The power shaft 14 is driven by a set of reversing gears controlled by clutches 31, both of said drives obtaining power from the cross shaft 4 which is rotated by a sprocket drive 26 and chain 27 driven fro-mthe shaft which in turn is driven from any suitable source of power as a motor, indicated at]? and mounted on the platform 1. v w

On the shaft 40 is a drum 41 on which is wound a cable 42 which passes over a sheave 43at the top of an upright '44. 2 This i'cable 42-is connected as at 45 to the head12 and serves to raise and lower the arms and head.

On the shaft 4 is another drum on which is wound a cable 51 which passes over a sheave 52 on the head 12 and is connected at 53 to the guide 54 which is slidablymountedj The drum 50 is provided with a clutch 57 and the run of the cable 51 held by a foot. brake 58 with auxiliary pawl 59.

The digger comprises a stem 60 splined for slidable movement through the rotary sleeve 19 and head 12. At its lower end it is provided with a bit 61 keyed as at 66in the shaft 60 and for slight movement relative thereto (see Fig. 7 The retreat of the bit 61 is opposed by the spring 63 contained within the stem. Thedigger shell 64 is mounted on-the base of the hub 56 andis provided with internal spiral flanges 65. (see Fig. 1)

which 'cut a core of earth or other material:

which is to be removed in forming the post hole.

made. It will be noted that due to-irregularities in the land the angle adjustment of the head 12 becomes very important and especially so in combination with the other adjustments and movements of the parts. In; fact, in manipulating so cumbersome a piece of equipment, it is extremely important that the head be capable of a wide range of manipulation.

The head 12 may be 'angularly adjusted during any of these movements or may be secured in any angular position with respect to the tubular arms 5 by tightening the clamping screws '85 in the split hubs 86;

Aside from the hole digging, there is in ny construction 'work' the pole handling,

setting, filling and tamping work to be done.. In repair or maintenance work'poles have m be removed for re-location or butts or stumps pulled, all requiring much power, which may be supplied through iny extensible arms.

ioo

As shown in Fig. 8, the head 12 is prefe rably provided with anjextension casing detaohably mounted as by fastenings 71. This member is an auxiliary jack member for heavy pulling or lifting. On many occasions 'it'isnecessary'to apply a pull or lift beyond the capacity of the hoist cable 42. To meet such situationsjI contemplate auxiliary bases of ground contact to relieve the strain on the hoists and on the apparatus in general.

The casing 70 has a nut member 72 provided with a gear 73-whichcan be meshed with the gear 74 onthe lower end of the driving sleeve .19. The nut-72 operates a threaded jack stem 75 provided with afoot 7 6. This foot is notched as at 77 to permit it to span. a pole or like objectt'o be pulled. The attachment 7 O has an apertured 'chain'connee be lifted. I

This maybe used with a gin pole 80 but in 'tion 78 formaking the hitch to the object to such case I:prefera-b1y use a simple eyed attachment 81 having an apertured bracket 82 which will sustain the gin pole when it-is used for auxiliary hoisting as where the lift cable 51 is run over its block 83. Such a gin pole is preferably provided with a pivoted foot 84 to give proper bearing on uneven grolfnd or permit angular erection. 1

Apparatus in accordance with my invention may be used to perform or assist in the performance of a great variety of general operations as well as those specifically referred to. The extensible and swinging arms make a convenient hoist for handling heavy tools o-rother equipment or materials. The tiltable head is particularly adapted for elevating'and setting the poles or for removing poles previously set. Thehoists either singly or in combination or working with the truck a movable factor provide a piece ofequipmento'f great utility and one capable of being operated under all reasonable service conditions. i

What I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is '1. In an apparatus of the class described, a vehicle, a horizontally disposed platform rotatably mounted thereon, a pair of extensible spaced arms pivoted-to said rotatable platform and having a head between their free ends, an upright on said platform, a re versible hoist, a flexible connection wound on said hoist and passing over said upright for raising and lowering the arms, and means for rotatably adjusting the platform on its vertical axis.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, comprising a support, a horizontally disposed platform rotatably mounted thereon, a

pair of spaced extensible arms pivoted to said rotatable platform and having a head between their free ends, a rotatable member in said head, a drive for the rotatable member in said head, a jack member carried by said head including a nut, a screw and means for driving the nut from the rotatable head member.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, comprising a support, a horizontally disposed platform rotatably mounted thereon, a'pair of spaced extensible arms pivoted to said r0 tatable platform and having a head between I their free ends, a rotatable member in said head. a drive for the rotatable member in said head, said head being tiltably mounted between said arms on the axis of said driving connection, a jack member carried by said head including a nut, a screw and means for driving the nut from the rotatable head members' c I 4:. In an apparatnsfiof the'class described, comprising a support, a horizontally disposed platform rotatably mounted thereon, a pair of spaced extensible arms pivoted to said rotatable platform and having a head between their free ends, a rotatable member in said head, a drive. for the rotatable member in said head, said head being tiltably mountedvbetween said arms on the axis ofsaid driving connection, a reversible hoist-for the arm, a jack member carried by "said head ineluding a nut, a screw and'means for driving the nut from the rotatable head member.

5. In an apparatus of the class described,

comprising a support, a horizontally disposed platform rotatably mounted thereon, a

for driving the nut fromthe rotatable head member, and disconnectible therefrom. f

6. In an apparatus of theclass' described, a support, a pair of spaced extensible arms pivotally mounted on said'support, a head casing trunnioned between thearm ends, a

member rotatably mountedtherein, a drive forrevc'rsibly rotating the member, a jacking attachment for the head including a nut and a s'crew, and means 'connectible'with the head drive when the attachment is inso as to be operated by the head'drive.

V 7.- In an apparatus of theclass described, a support, an extensible arm pivotally mounted on saidsnpport, a head casing carried at the arm end,"amember rotatablymounted therein, means for reversiblyrotating the member, a gear on said member, a ack casing, means for detachablymounting it on the head, a nut and a screw in the Jack casing, a gear on the nut and intermeshablewiththat of the head when tlie'attachment is in place soasto be operated by the head gear.

8. In an apparatus of theclass described, a vehicle, a horizontally disposed platform mounted thereon on a vertical bearing,

tat-able platform, ahead between the free arm ends, means'for raising and lowering the head and arms.

9."Inan apparatus ofthe' class described,

7 comprising a vehicle, an extensible armpivotally supported thereon, anangnlarly adjusta pair of spaced telescopic arms pivoted to said ro-' place said head being tiltably-mounted able headlon thearm and a rotatable drivingmemberin said head, a driven member carried by said head, and means for-vertically adjusting; and laterally swinging said arm. 1 11..-;In an apparatus of theiclass-described comprising a vehicle, a horizontally disposed platform rotatably mom'lted thereon,an extensiblearm pivotally mounted on said platform, an ang'ularly adjustable head on said arm,- a rotatable driving. member in said head, .ardriven membercarried ,by said head, means for adjusting. said arm vertically, meansv for rotatably adjusting the platform, and means for-operating said drivenmember. 12. In-an apparatus of the class described comprising a support, an extensible arm pivotallymounted on said support,an angu; larly-adjustable head on said arm and a rota-table'drivingmember in said head,'-a driven member carried by said head and operatively connected thereto, and means for vertically adjusting the arm and laterally swinging the 13.,In apparatus of theiclass described comprisinga vehicle,v ahorizontally rotatable platform mounted thereon, an extensible arm pivotally mounted on said platform, an angularl'y adjustable head on said arm, a rotatable driving member in said head, a driven membercarried by'said head and con nected to said driving member,and means for operating said driving member in said head. 14. In'iapparatus of the classdescribed, a rotatable support, a pair of spaced extensible armsupivoted to said rotatable support and having ahead between their free ends, a rotatablemember in said head, a drive for the rotatable; member, means for adj ustably tilting the head onits' axis, a reversible hoist for raising-and loweringthe head and arms, a driven; member carried by said head member and means for operating said driven member.

15.. In an apparatusofthe class described, a vehicle, a horizontally disposed platform mounted thereon, a pair ofspaced telescopic 7 arms 1pivoted to said rotatable platform, a

rotatable platform and having aheadl be tween their free ends, arotatable member'in tween their free ends, a rotatable member in said head, said head being tiltably mounted between'said arms onthe axis of said drive ing connection, a driven member carried by said head andmeans for driving. said driven member from the rotatable head member. s

c o 18. In anapparatus of the class described, a support, a pair of spaced extensible arms pivotally, mounted on-said support,.a head casing trunnioned between the arm ends, a member rotatably mounted therein, a drive for reversibly rotatingth'e member, a driven member mounted on said head and means con nectible with the drive for'said head memher so as to be operatedthereby and to operate said driven member.

v 19. In an apparatus of the class described,

a pair of'spaced extensible arms pivotally mountedon said support, a head pivoted between the free ends ofsaid arms, a rotatable driving member in said head and a suitable driven member-supported by said head,

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

,HARRY L. WVI-IEELDEN.

head-between the free arm ends, a rotatable member-insaid head,- a drive shaft extending through one of saidarms and operatively geared to therotating member in said head,

said. headbeingtiltably mounted between said arms on the axis-0f said driving connece tion,ai-reversibledrive for said drive shaft, ahead adjusting shaft on the other of said arms: and operatively 7 connected tosaid head I totiltlit' o-nzits' axis, meansfor reversibly driving the .head adjusting means, means for raislngand driven member carried by sald head and means? conneeting said driven member to said rotatable member in said head.

16; In an apparatus of the class described 7 comprisinga support, a horizontally disposed lowering the head and arms, a 7

platform rotatably mounted thereon, a-pair v of spaced-extensible armsipivoted-to said 

